DIY Greenhouse Heat Recovery System

  • 8 Replies
  • 4734 Views
*

tinyallotment

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Location: Cornwall
  • 90
  • Size isn't everything
    • Tiny Allotment
DIY Greenhouse Heat Recovery System
« on: July 10, 2015, 07:31 »
As my dome seems to actually becoming reality I am looking for a way to regulate the temperature both day and night.

I am going to have some vents as a back up just in case the dome overheats but this would be a worst-case scenario. I do not want to loose the heat generated during the day. I would rather store it to be released over night.

I'm sure there are countless commercially available systems out there but my system needs to be cheap and DIY.

I'm thinking, a solar powered ducted fan taking the hot air down to a loop in an insulated IBC full of water and back out again.

This should take hot air from the top of the dome, cool it and return it to the dome during the day. Come night time the heat will slowly leak back out from the water into the dome maintaining the temperature over night.

Would this work?

Paul

*

JayG

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: South West Sheffield
  • 16722
Re: DIY Greenhouse Heat Recovery System
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2015, 08:14 »
The physics and maths of thermal storage is beyond me I'm afraid, especially if you wanted your system to provide warmth outside the summer months - a fairly recent thread on the subject here which you may find helpful:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=118332.msg1383695#msg1383695
Sow your seeds, plant your plants. What's the difference? A couple of weeks or more when answering possible queries!

One of the best things about being an orang-utan is the fact that you don't lose your good looks as you get older

*

Annen

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
  • 3315
    • Anne's Gardening Diary
Re: DIY Greenhouse Heat Recovery System
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2015, 08:58 »
JRKO installed a solar fan in his greenhouse a couple of months back, might be worth a read. http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=107298.0
Anne

*

GrannieAnnie

  • Grandmother of the Forums
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 21104
Re: DIY Greenhouse Heat Recovery System
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2015, 09:12 »
I think the 'reservoir needs to be underground to be able to hold the heat in.  I used to watch Dick Strawbridge in "It's not easy being green" on TV. 

OH was going to build me one, but it never got done.

Here is something similar, but I haven't read all of this article yet.

http://www.greenhomegnome.com/heat-sink-self-heating-greenhouse/

*

brokenglass

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland
  • 306
Re: DIY Greenhouse Heat Recovery System
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2016, 12:02 »
Love the concept but fear that the Solar panel would be stolen!
Do you really need al that lettuce/

*

Trikidiki

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Location: Near Romsey, Hampshire
  • 954
Re: DIY Greenhouse Heat Recovery System
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2016, 13:12 »
I have a solar panel charging a battery on the allotment with a similar idea in mind.

We don't have a general theft problem but I have fixed mine so it is flush against the roof glass of the greenhouse, You have to look really hard to notice it is there. It should be fairly easy to disguise a panel as a cold frame if you don't have a greenhouse.

*

tinyallotment

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Location: Cornwall
  • 90
  • Size isn't everything
    • Tiny Allotment
Re: DIY Greenhouse Heat Recovery System
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2016, 08:48 »
Yes theft is always a problem but as you say I will try to disguise the panel as much as is practicable.

Paul

*

oakridge

  • Guest
Re: DIY Greenhouse Heat Recovery System
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2016, 10:57 »
The sustainable living programs that Dick Strawbridge did some years back covered this sort of thing.  I have a water butt inside the greenhouse which makes a Contribution.

*

tinyallotment

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Location: Cornwall
  • 90
  • Size isn't everything
    • Tiny Allotment
Re: DIY Greenhouse Heat Recovery System
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2016, 11:18 »
Thanks oakridge

Yes we store about 600 litres of water in out small tunnel and at the moment about 1000 litres in the dome. It make a difference to the temperature in the dome but I cannot quantify it at the moment because I need a data logging thermometer

Paul



wireless
built in water system

Started by compoQ on Design and Construction

7 Replies
3693 Views
Last post July 13, 2010, 22:27
by Stevie342000
xx
Timed watering system

Started by Yana on Design and Construction

3 Replies
2342 Views
Last post June 04, 2013, 20:45
by BritBrat
xx
Irrigation system for trees

Started by MarkinFrance on Design and Construction

11 Replies
3761 Views
Last post March 14, 2011, 18:59
by MarkinFrance
xx
growing frame system for blackberrys

Started by new_2_veg on Design and Construction

18 Replies
6404 Views
Last post November 12, 2007, 14:08
by new_2_veg
 

Page created in 0.134 seconds with 41 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |